Main navigation

Just Shoot.

The only way to become a better photographer is to shoot photos; there are no shortcuts.

Focus on action

If you want bigger muscles, you need to lift heavy things.

If you want to become smarter, you need to read more books.

If you want to become a better pianist, you need to practice your scales.

If you want to become a better writer, you need to write more.

Don’t worry about concepts

Don’t over-theorize photography. I know in this blog, I share a lot of practical lessons from the masters of photography. But sometimes thinking too much of the concepts can distract you from the most important thing— shooting.

How to shoot more

Kyoto, 2016

If you want to learn how to shoot more, here are some tips:

1. Don’t put pressure on yourself:

Only shoot when you feel like it. But make sure to always have your camera with you, because you never know when a good photo opportunity might come your way. This also means to only photograph what interests you; never photograph according to the standards of others.

2. Play:

Don’t treat photography like a chore. Treat it like playing. Imagine a child who has their first camera. They just wander around, and photograph what interests them. They don’t censor themselves, nor do they worry whether a photo is “good” or not.

3. Use “P” mode:

Program mode is my favorite mode to shoot photography. I just set the ISO to 1600, autofocus, and point-and-shoot. This means one less thing I need to worry about when it comes to photography. This frees up mental energy for me to just shoot.